Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/537

 tangible action, some immediate definite sacrifice has been demanded of you for the purpose of averting a serious calamity that has overtaken us in the shape of what are known as the Rowlatt Bills. One of them Bill No. I, has undergone material alterations and its further consideration has been postponed. Inspite, however, of the alteration, it is mischievous enough to demand opposition. The Second Bill has pro- bably at this very moment been finally passed by that Council, for in reality you can hardly call the Bill as having been passed by that august body when all its non official members unanimously and in strong language opposed it. The Bills require to be resisted not only because they are in themselves bad, but also because Government who are responsible for their introduction have seen fit practically to ignore public opinion and some of its members have made it a boast that they can so ignore that opinion. So far it is common cause between the different schools of thought in the country. I have, however, after much prayerful consideration, and after very careful examination of the Government's standpoint, pledged myself to offer Satyagraha against the Bills, and invited all men and women who think and feel with me to do likewise. Some of our countrymen, including those who are among the best of the leaders, have uttered a note of warning, and even gone so far as to say that this Satyagraha movement is against the best interests of the country. I have naturally the highest regard for them and their opinion. I have worked-under some of them. I was a babe when Sir Dinshaw Wacha and Babu Surendranath Banner ji were among the accepted leaders of public opinion in India. Mr*

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